Enviro News Asia, Singapore — Kementerian Kehutanan Republik Indonesia reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to accelerating the recognition and designation of Indigenous Forests during the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) 2026 held in Singapore on 19 May 2026.
Director General of Social Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetiani, participated as a speaker in a thematic session titled “Building a Multi-stakeholder Model for Climate, Nature, and Indigenous Land Tenure Rights: Exploring the Inter-governmental Pledge at COP 30.”
The international forum brought together philanthropists, policymakers, civil society organizations, Indigenous representatives, academics, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in addressing global challenges related to climate, forestry, and environmental governance.
The discussion featured speakers from various sectors, including representatives from non-governmental organizations, the Tenure Facility, the Indigenous Territory Registration Agency (BRWA), Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity (IPAS Fund), private sector representatives from PT Bintuni Utama Murni Wood Industries, and the philanthropic organization The Earthshot Prize.
During the session, Catur Endah reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to advancing the recognition and establishment of 1.4 million hectares of Indigenous Forests, a target previously announced during COP 30 preparations in Belém, Brazil.
She also shared Indonesia’s experiences in implementing inclusive and equitable forest governance through the country’s Social Forestry program, which aims to strengthen community participation and Indigenous rights in sustainable forest management.
To accelerate implementation, the Indonesian Government has prepared several technical instruments, including the establishment of a Task Force for Accelerating Indigenous Forest Status Determination under Ministerial Decree No. 121 of 2026. The task force mandate has been expanded through 2029 to strengthen verification and designation processes.
In addition, the government has developed a Roadmap for Accelerating Indigenous Forest Recognition to guide verification, handling, and legal designation procedures across the country.
According to the Ministry, Indonesia has so far received 95 proposals covering approximately 1.416 million hectares across 30 regencies in 15 provinces. During 2025, verification processes were conducted for 23 proposals, with 12 areas officially designated as Indigenous Forests.
At the conclusion of the discussion, participants emphasized that the success of Indigenous Forest acceleration depends heavily on multi-stakeholder collaboration through a pentahelix approach involving government institutions, NGOs, academia, private sector actors, media, and Indigenous communities themselves.
The forum highlighted the importance of mutual recognition among stakeholders and the promotion of equitable co-management systems to ensure sustainable Indigenous Forest governance rooted in local wisdom and community participation.
Speakers also agreed that strengthening Indigenous Forest management represents an important climate solution deserving greater global investment and international support.
The Philanthropy Asia Summit 2026 serves as an international platform for collaboration on major global issues, including climate change, environmental conservation, and the protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights. (*)
